Notice to the PressOffice of the SpokesmanWashington, DCJanuary 9, 2009

Special Press Briefing and Release of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Fifth Annual Report to Congress

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will deliver opening remarks for the release of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) 2009 Annual Report to Congress on Monday, January 12, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Press Briefing Room of the U.S. Department of State.

The annual report outlines the dramatic successes PEPFAR has had in fighting AIDS and the programs’ achievements through its partnerships between the American people and host nations around the world. Following the Secretary Rice’s remarks, Ambassador Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, will address the press corps and respond to reporters’ questions. This briefing will take place in the Department of State’s press briefing room (Room 2209), and will be on camera and on-the-record.

The remarks will be open to the press.Final access time for press: 9:45 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport). Press should allow adequate time to process through security and to be in the briefing room 10 minutes prior to the briefing.

PRESS CONTACTS:
Office of Press Relations
U.S. Department of State
(202) 647-2492

Embargoed copies of the report on CD-ROM will be available on Monday, January 12th at 8:15 a.m. in the Department of State’s Press Office (Room 2109). The report will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, one CD per media organization and must be collected in person from Room 2109. Copies will not be reserved, mailed, faxed, or delivered to a building entrance. The entire report will remain EMBARGOED until the end of the press briefing at 10:30 a.m.

Following the briefing, the full report will be available on the PEPFAR website, www.PEPFAR.gov.